Type 63 assault rifle: Difference between revisions

Type 63 assault rifle
Type 63 assault rifle
	Type 63 rifle with folding bayonet.
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	China
Service history
In service	1963–1978; 1963–present (Other countries)
Used by	See Users
Wars	Vietnam War; Cambodian Civil War[citation needed]; Sino-Vietnamese War[citation needed]; Soviet–Afghan War[citation needed]; Salvadoran Civil War; Tuareg rebellion (1990–1995); Kosovo War;
Production history
Designed	1959–1963
Manufacturer	PRC government arsenals
Specifications
Mass	3.8 kg (8.38 lb)
Length	1,033 mm (40.7 in)
Barrel length	531 mm (20.9 in)
Cartridge	7.62×39mm
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	750 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	735 m/s (2,411 ft/s)
Effective firing range	500m
Feed system	20-round detachable box magazine or standard 30-round AK-47 detachable box magazine (modification)
Sights	Hooded front post, rear U-notch on sliding tangent

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Revision as of 13:55, 23 February 2024

The Type 63 (Chinese: 63式7.62mm自动步枪) is a Chinese-designed assault rifle with a resemblance to the SKS. The weapon features a fully-automatic rotating-bolt system modified from the Type 56 assault rifle instead of the tilting bolt system of the SKS. Overall, the weapon is based on the Type 56 carbine (Chinese SKS) and the Type 56 assault rifle which are both used by the People's Liberation Army.^[1]

It is sometimes known as the Type 68, which is incorrect.^[1]

Development

The Type 63 was intended to replace the Type 56 semi-automatic carbine in Chinese service at one time when infantry felt the need for a compromise between rifle firepower and long rifle range and to help the Type 56 assault rifle integrate into service as there were too few of these to equip the entire PLA. The development of the Type 63 started in 1959; the design certificate was issued in 1963 (which is why the Chinese designation is "Type 63"), and the rifle entered service within the PLA in 1969. The Type 63 was removed from PLA service in 1978 due to bad performance and accuracy.^[1]^[2]

Other than China, the biggest user of the Type 63 rifle was Albania, where it was exported in quantities when the Communist regime split from the Soviet sphere of influence. The Type 63 rifle was also exported by China to North Vietnam during the Vietnam War, and throughout the 1970s,^[3] it was also sent in smaller amounts to Burma, Cambodia and other countries in Asia and Africa.^[1]

North Korea also has used the Type 63 rifle in addition to their own locally produced SKS rifles.^{[citation needed]}

Design

The Type 63 rifle is a select-fire weapon, fed by proprietary "cut-down" 20-round magazines or standard AK-47 30-round magazines, although these require minor modifications (removal of the bolt hold-open device) to fit. The fire selector is placed on the right side of the weapon right above the trigger guard, at index finger reach. The Type 63 rifle also features a non-removable folding spike-bayonet and a gas regulator system^[4] to use standard live ammunition or blank ammunition for the launch of rifle grenades.^[5] The magazine can be reloaded with 10-round SKS stripper clips.^[6]

The Type 63 was designed for semi-automatic fire with selective full-auto capability. The rifle was required by the People's Liberation Army to have higher accuracy compared to the Type 56 assault rifle. Moreover, the manufacturing process needs to be simplified to realize the military philosophy based on the use of masses in wartime. The weapon should facilitate the troops to be able to stop the enemy advance by rifle shots at extremely long distances as well as the use of the automatic fire for the final close-quarters engagements.^[5]

The initial production of the rifle showed a promising result. Comparing to the Type 56 assault rifle, which is an AK-47 clone, the Type 63 has higher reliability and better accuracy. It is fitted with the bolt hold-open device that both the AK-47 and Type 56 lacks. The service life of the Type 63 is 15,000 rounds due to efficient structural design and a streamlined manufacturing process, making it significantly better than the 6,000 rounds of Type 56 and AK-47 at the time.^[5]

Production

Although the initial production of Type 63 received positive feedback from the troops, the final production of Type 63 encountered enormous disruption due to the Cultural Revolution. The quality control of the production was severely affected, and the initial design was not respected. After the first batch of Type 63 finished production in 1969, subsequent batches received design changes that yielded questionable results. The service life degraded to 10,000 rounds instead of the promised 15,000 rounds. By the time it was finished, the weapon design was outdated as more compact, short-barreled assault rifles were taking the spotlight in modern warfare as shown in the US engagement in Vietnam.^[5]

Users

Afghanistan: Used by the Mujahideen.^{[citation needed]}
Albania^[6]
Australia^[7]
Barbados^{[citation needed]}
Burkina Faso^[8]
Burundi^[9]
Cambodia^{[citation needed]}
China: As of 2020, the Type 63 is mainly used in ceremonial events or with military honor guards.^{[citation needed]}
Costa Rica^[10]
Cyprus^[11]
Democratic Republic of Congo^[12]
Djibouti^[13]
El Salvador^[14]
Eritrea^[15]
Gabon^[16]
Grenada^[17]
Guatemala^[7]
Iran^[18]
Ivory Coast^[11]
Jamaica^[19]
Lesotho^[20]
Liberia^[21]
Madagascar^[22]
Malaysia^[23]
Morocco^[24]
Myanmar^[1]
Nepal^[25]
New Zealand^[26]
Nicaragua^[27]
Nigeria^[28]
Pakistan^[29]
Rhodesia^[30]
South Africa^[13]
South Korea^[16]
Sri Lanka^[6]
Thailand^[31]
Togo^[23]
Template:Country data United Arab Emirate^[32]
Vietnam: In Vietnamese service the rifle is designated K63.^[33] It saw very little service in North Vietnam, and was withdrawn from front-line service after the Vietnam War ended. It is still in use by the Militia and Self-Defense (Vietnam).

Non-State Actors

Kosovo Liberation Army^[5]
People's Movement for the Liberation of Azawad^[34]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e https://web.archive.org/web/20070820155744/http://www.sinodefence.com/army/small_arms/type63rifle.asp
^ http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/2003-07-22/138626.html
^ Tucker, Spencer C., ed. (May 2011). The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History (2 ed.). p. 976. ISBN 978-1-85109-960-3.
^ Popenker, Maxim. "Type 63 rifle". Modern Firearms. Archived from the original on 2008-11-09. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Type 63 automatic rifle". Guns' world (in Chinese).
^ ^a ^b ^c https://web.archive.org/web/20151219234128/http://www.tactical-life.com/firearms/5-chinese-assault-rifles/#swjf16-chn-63
^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference Arnold2024 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference RBF was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Capie was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference Jowett was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference Davis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Salvador was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference Koziel was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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^ Cite error: The named reference UAE was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ""Sao vuông" Việt Bắc". ct.qdnd.vn (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 2018-04-14.
^ Small Arms Survey (2005). "Sourcing the Tools of War: Small Arms Supplies to Conflict Zones". Small Arms Survey 2005: Weapons at War. Oxford University Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-19-928085-8. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 9, 2010.

[SD-1] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20070820155744/http://www.sinodefence.com/army/small_arms/type63rifle.asp

[SINA63-2] ttp://mil.news.sina.com.cn/2003-07-22/138626.html

[Vietnam-3] Tucker, Spencer C., ed. (May 2011). The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History (2 ed.). p. 976. ISBN 978-1-85109-960-3.

[MF-4] Popenker, Maxim. "Type 63 rifle". Modern Firearms. Archived from the original on 2008-11-09. Retrieved 2018-10-18.

[GW-5] "Type 63 automatic rifle". Guns' world (in Chinese).

[TL-6] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20151219234128/http://www.tactical-life.com/firearms/5-chinese-assault-rifles/#swjf16-chn-63

[Arnold2024-7] Cite error: The named reference Arnold2024 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[RBF-8] Cite error: The named reference RBF was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Capie-9] Cite error: The named reference Capie was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Tinderbox-10] Cite error: The named reference Tinderbox was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Jowett-11] Cite error: The named reference Jowett was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[DRC-12] Cite error: The named reference DRC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Davis-13] Cite error: The named reference Davis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Salvador-14] Cite error: The named reference Salvador was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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[Iranian-18] Cite error: The named reference Iranian was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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[Sotho-20] Cite error: The named reference Sotho was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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[UAE-32] Cite error: The named reference UAE was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:0-33] ""Sao vuông" Việt Bắc". ct.qdnd.vn (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 2018-04-14.

[SAS_2005-34] Small Arms Survey (2005). "Sourcing the Tools of War: Small Arms Supplies to Conflict Zones". Small Arms Survey 2005: Weapons at War. Oxford University Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-19-928085-8. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 9, 2010.

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@@ Line 67: / Line 67: @@
 * {{flag|Afghanistan}}: Used by the [[Mujahideen]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}
 * {{flag|Albania}}<ref name="TL"/>
+* {{flag|Australia}}<ref name="Arnold2024"/>
+* {{flag|Barbados}}{{cn|date=February 2024}}
+* {{flag|Burkina Faso}}<ref name="RBF"/>
+* {{flag|Burundi}}<ref name=Capie/>
 * {{flag|Cambodia}}{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}
 * {{flag|China}}: As of 2020, the Type 63 is mainly used in ceremonial events or with military honor guards.{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}
+* {{flag|Costa Rica}}<ref name="Tinderbox"/>
+* {{flag|Cyprus}}<ref name="Jowett"/>
+* {{flag|Democratic Republic of Congo}}<ref name="DRC"/>
+* {{flag|Djibouti}}<ref name="Davis"/>
+* {{flag|El Salvador}}<ref name="Salvador"/>
+* {{flag|Eritrea}}<ref name="Gander2024"/>
+* {{flag|Gabon}}<ref name="Koziel"/>
+* {{flag|Grenada}}<ref name="Gazette"/>
+* {{flag|Guatemala}}<ref name="Arnold2024"/>
+* {{flag|Iran}}<ref name="Iranian"/>
+* {{flag|Ivory Coast}}<ref name="Jowett"/>
+* {{flag|Jamaica}}<ref name="ROJ"/>
+* {{flag|Lesotho}}<ref name="Sotho"/>
+* {{flag|Liberia}}<ref name="Adowa"/>
+* {{flag|Madagascar}}<ref name="Hogg2024"/>
+* {{flag|Malaysia}}<ref name="Bishop"/>
+* {{flag|Morocco}}<ref name="Jane"/>
 * {{flag|Myanmar}}<ref name="SD"/>
+* {{flag|Nepal}}<ref name="FRN"/>
+* {{flag|New Zealand}}<ref name="NZ"/>
+* {{flag|Nicaragua}}<ref name="Latin"/>
+* {{flag|Nigeria}}<ref name="Walther"/>
+* {{flag|Pakistan}}<ref name="Arab"/>
+* {{flag|Rhodesia}}<ref name="Rifles"/>
+* {{flag|South Africa}}<ref name="Davis"/>
+* {{flag|South Korea}}<ref name="Koziel"/>
 * {{flag|Sri Lanka}}<ref name="TL"/>
+* {{flag|Thailand}}<ref name="SupicaNahas2024"/>
+* {{flag|Togo}}<ref name="Bishop"/>
+* {{flag|United Arab Emirate}}<ref name="UAE"/>
 * {{flag|Vietnam}}: In Vietnamese service the rifle is designated K63.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://ct.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/sao-vuong-viet-bac-521206|title="Sao vuông" Việt Bắc|work=ct.qdnd.vn|access-date=2018-04-14|language=vi-VN}}</ref> It saw very little service in North Vietnam, and was withdrawn from front-line service after the [[Vietnam War]] ended. It is still in use by the [[:vi:Dân quân tự vệ (Việt Nam)|Militia and Self-Defense (Vietnam)]].